RIYADH — The Ministry of Defense received its first batch of French fast interceptor vessels in the Eastern Province on Thursday.

The ministry has signed an agreement with French company CMN to manufacture and supply a number of the HSI32 boats.

Some of the vessels will be made in France and the rest will be made in Saudi Arabia as part of a technology transfer program.

The commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces Gen. Fahd Bin Abdullah Al-Ghufaili said: “We are now seeing the first signs of large naval projects,” adding that the interceptor vessels were the first of such initiatives.

Al-Ghufaili also said that the Kingdom will receive a number of military helicopters in the coming months “that will support the naval forces.” — SPA